The Latest: US Justice Department to announce plan to reform Milwaukee Police Department

MILWAUKEE – The U.S. Justice Department says it will announce a plan for enacting significant reforms in the Milwaukee Police Department.

The brief news release makes no mention of what sparked the announcement, which is scheduled for Thursday.

Several police agencies nationwide are involved in similar action. Among them are Baltimore and St. Louis County, which have been involved in high-profile deaths that sparked widespread protesting.

In Milwaukee, a black man was killed by a white officer in a downtown park in 2014. The death has prompted ongoing demonstrations.

The DOJ announced last month that it wouldn't pursue criminal civil rights charges against the officer, and Police Chief Ed Flynn responded by saying he invited a partnership and examination from the agency.